The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, in conjunction with state and federal partners, recently obtained expedited authority for emergency dredging of Lake Montauk Harbor, NY ⎼ a federal navigation channel on eastern Long Island. Approximately 10,000 cubic yards of sand was removed, dredging critically shoaled areas that had created a navigational hazard for marine traffic, especially for commercial fishermen.
MONTAUK INLET
Located approximately 125 miles east of Manhattan, Montauk Inlet is a 0.7-mile-long, 150-foot-wide channel heavily used by the United States Coast Guard, New York’s largest commercial fishing fleet (with homeport in Lake Montauk Harbor), interstate ferry service, and numerous commercial marinas. Lake Montauk Harbor also serves as a harbor/refuge on the eastern end on Long Island. Maintaining federal navigation channels through maintenance dredging is an essential mission of the Army Corps of Engineers ─ not just for maritime safety, but also the economic vitality of local industries. Montauk Inlet is a major market for the fishing industry on Long Island.
When the District learned of navigation concerns in January 2025, a collaboration at all levels of government was quickly put in motion ─ especially the NY District Operations Division that developed an innovative course of action to survey, design, permit, fund and execute the work with significant help from New York State Department Environmental Conservation to expedite the permitting requirements associated with the water-quality-certificate process. In just over six weeks’ time, the shallow areas were dredged to the authorized 12-foot depth. Such swift turn-around is uncommon: Army Corps projects must adhere to federal, state and local laws/regulations before work can begin ─ which can be time-consuming.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Recently, New York District Leaders and staff, along with elected officials and community residents, held a press conference on site, to recognize this collaborative partnership amongst many vested stakeholders that made possible the needed dredging work that was completed in February. The Dredge MURDEN, owned and operated by the Army Corps’ Wilmington District (North Carolina), performed the work. Immediate action was required as several areas of the inlet had become too shallow for larger craft to safely navigate ⎼ especially commercial fishing vessels with a full load of catch that could hit bottom or run aground.
After the press event, New York District Commander Col. Alexander Young and staff boarded the MURDEN for a tour of the dredge with elected officials and news crews. Col. Young spoke to the crew from USACE-Wilmington, thanking them for their invaluable assistance and providing each with a Commanders’ Coin (an Army Corps symbol recognizing outstanding work.) In addition, Chief of New York’s Operations, Readiness and Regulatory Functions Division Randall Hintz provided an impromptu discussion of the instruments on board. Of great interest to visitors was a multi-color monitor in the pilot house. Hintz explained that it contained a great deal of information about the project ─ specifications, progress to date, survey data, water depth, etc. He then took questions and answers.
COLLABORATION
To move the project forward, New York received an emergency declaration from the Army Corps’ North Atlantic Division Engineer that made needed funds available, and allowing for expedited coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the State of New York Department of State. The expedited coordination was critical in complying with state and federal regulations.
New York District Commander Col. Alexander Young stated: “There was an immediate need for dredging. Our District took swift action to ensure the inlet was safely navigable for all marine traffic. A big thanks to our Operations Division staff handling the many details making this project possible, and our state and federal stakeholders ─ especially the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation that expedited permitting.”
Young continued: “I also want to recognize the Wilmington District for their major assist providing the dredge, MURDEN. They worked flexibility into the dredge’s busy schedule allowing it to be available for several days to address this critical situation. The crew of the dredge, which I met personally, was also outstanding. Excellence all the way around.”
BENEFICIAL RE-USE
While the purpose was alleviating the effects of shoaling and restoring a navigable channel for mariners, there was a second benefit: the dredged sand was deposited just west of the inlet in an approved near-shore site. The prevailing currents will transport sand further west along the shoreline nourishing down-drift beaches while maintaining a safe channel for navigation. The NYSDEC was instrumental in providing guidance and the needed permit modification to Operations Division which allowed for this to project to incorporate nearshore placement of this dredged material for beneficial re-use.
Chief of New York’s Operations, Readiness and Regulatory Functions Division Randall Hintz stated: “The expedited dredging of Montauk Inlet was a major accomplishment by a team of Army Corps professionals, including the Wilmington District (North Carolina) providing the dredge, MURDEN. From early January to mid-February, employees worked tirelessly to make this project happen. Great teamwork all the way around. I’m very proud of them and happy to help residents of the Montauk community.”
NEW YORK & WILMINGTON TEAM
Employees supporting the effort were:
OP Office of the Chief: Randall Hintz, Gerlyn Perlas and Alexander Gregory
Technical/Mgmt. Support: Michael Oseback, Ryan Ferguson, Raphael Dungca, David Griffin, Kenneth Peterson, Robin Tulsiram and Sophia Squires
Surveys: Christopher Aballo, Joshua Sagona, Steven Ganuncio, Nicholas Vitolo, Thomas Jansen, Ryan Michaels and Joseph Bertolotti
Caven Point Marine Terminal: William Lyness, Juan Silva
Regulatory Branch: Stephan Ryba, Rosita Miranda and Mathew Look
Planning/Environmental: Peter Weppler
Wilmington Dredge Team: Joen Petersen, George Fadok, Victor Nelson, Martin Willis, Daniel Brown, Michael Allred and James Horton
INLET HISTORY
Montauk Inlet was created by real estate developer Carl Fisher in the 1920s, cutting a permanent inlet from formerly freshwater Lake Montauk to Block Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The Army Corps of Engineers began maintaining the inlet in 1945 through the Lake Montauk Harbor Federal Navigation Project authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act.
New York has completed additional projects for the Montauk community in the past two years: building a new armor-stone revetment (wall) protecting Montauk Lighthouse, a National Historic Landmark standing less than 100 feet from the Atlantic Ocean, and the Downtown Montauk Stabilization Project renourishing the local beach with 450,000 cubic yards of sand.